Pitless adapter



Aug. 23, 1960 N. M. ANDERSON PITLESS ADAPTER -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 /N VEN TOR. NOEL M NDERO/Y BVM Qm ArroP/vfx Aug. 23, 1960 N. M. ANDERSON PITLESS ADAPTER 2 Sheets-Sl'xaet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1958 EN M M a 0 N wml @QM TTORNEK PITLESS ADAPTER Noel M. Anderson, 130x392, Storm Lake, Iowa 'Filed Sept. 26, 1958, Ser. N o. 763,605

12 Claims. (Cl. 166-85) My invention relates to water pumping apparatus of the type known as pitless adapters or pitless pumps where the operating parts and discharge points are located in the ground below the frost line. No pit is used with such apparatus since parts are inserted into and withdrawn from the well casing which has an extension above surface level for that purpose.

More particularly this invention contemplates improvements in the underground discharge coupling for effecting better sealing engagement with the discharge outlet in the casing.

Another important object herein is to provide an underground discharge coupling assembly for a pitless adapter pump that can be easily inserted into and withdrawn from a well casing and includes novel means for biasing the same into and out of sealing engagement with the underground discharge outlet.

A further object inhering herein includes improved means for suspending and supporting the adapter assembly within the well casing.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved means for aligning the discharge coupling with the discharge outlet in a pitless adapter.

`Other objects and advantages of this invention reside in the details of construction and correlation of the various parts and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

This invention consists of novel parts and combination of parts `to be hereinafter described whereby the objects set forth are attained, as pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof showing the discharge coupling inserted in the well casing in alignment with the discharge outlet but not yet in sealing engagement therewith.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the discharge coupling after it has been biased into sealing engagement with the discharge outlet, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View, partly in section, of the top of the pull pipe and associated parts showing the use of the cap engaging eye bolt in Figs. 2 and 3 being used for connection to the pull pipe only when the cap has been removed.

Referring to the drawings the usual well casing 1i) is shown relative to ground level 12 Fig. 2) with the underground discharge pipe 14 to which the underground discharge pipe extension 16 is suitably connected. Such parts are standard in devices of this type and member 14 is in eiect a stub pipe that may be welded to or clamped on casing to register with and terminate in a ltapered opening or orifice 18 therein and to provide a supporting connecting means for line 16 as shown. An annular support ring or plate 20 is provided with a peripheral shoulder 22 by which it rests on and is supported by the top edge 24 of casing 10. A lug or boss 26 projecting from the perimeter of plate 20 (Fig. l) seats in a notch 28 provided in the top of casing 10 and prevents any rotary movement of such plate relative to the casing 10. Plate or ring 2t) supports all of the structure of this invention within the casing 10 in a novel manner as will later appear.

A pull pipe 30 is removably attached at its upper end to plate 20 by a cap 32 or other suitable means so as to depend therefrom in axial alignment, and at its lower end is threadably attached to the upper end of a block-hice housing 34 with the lock nut 36. rlhe lower portion of housing'34 s'provided with an inverted L -shaped passage- Way 38 which includes the threaded opening 4d at the bottom for receiving the drop pipe 42 that connects to a pump (not shown) and the side opening 44 which communicates with what I have called the sealing L 46'. The L 46 is in eiect a boss-like projection from the side of housing 34 and terminates in a tapered or beveled face 48 designed to seat in the opening 16 of pipe 14. An O ring seal 50 is mounted on or in face 48 to provide a iiuid tight seal at this point. `It should be mentioned here that the distance between the top edge 24 of pipe 16 and the underground discharge pipe 14 may vary in different installations and thus the length of`pull pipe 30 will be such that L 46- will he in position to register with pipe 14 (Fig. 2) when cap 20 is placed on pipe 16. Notch 23 in edge 24 of pipe 10 is in vertical alignment with pipe 14 and lug 26 on plate or ring 2li is similarly arranged relative to L 46 soV that by seating lug 26 in notch 2S', L 46 is accurately aligned with pipe 14. Means for moving L 46 into and out of sealing engagement with pipe 14 is one of the impoltant aspects of this invention and is accomplished in the followingmanner.

A pair of like elongated tiat guide plates 52 (Fig. 1) each having what I shall callv the respective front 54 and rear 56 edges are rigidly connected by bar 5S so as to be maintained in parallel spaced relationship in such a manner that each` plate 52 is disposed closely adjacent one of two opposite sides of housing 34' as shown. In this position the face 48 of L 46 projects slightly beyond the front edges 54 and the rear edges 56 are substantially in alignment with the edge of housing 34 opposite to L 46. Each plate 52 is provided with a diagonal slot 60 extending from the bottom thereof near edge 56 upwardly towards and terminating near edge 54 'and a lug or boss 62 on each respective side of housing 34 adjacent the plates 52 projects intoY the respective slots 60. The diameter of such lugs are such that slots 60 are in slidable engagement therewith as will later appear. An adjusting rod 64 is connected at one end to bar 5S by any suitable means which is illustrated here as a fitting 66 on bar 58 to which rod 64' may be removably or permanently attached. The main length of rod 64 is parallel to the pull pipe 30 with its other or upper end being externally threaded 68 and projecting upwardly through the support ring 20 and through a platform member 7i) mounted thereon. An adjusting nut 72 is placed on rod 64 above platform 70 and washers 74 may be used as shown. By rotation of nut 72 in two opposite directions respectively, rod 64 isk moved either upwardly or downwardly relative to ring 20, the drop pipe 30, housing 34 and L 46 and thus plates 512 being secured to rod 64 are correspondingly moved relative to the same numbered parts. Such relative movement of plates 52 moves the diagonal slots 60 against the lugs 62 to bias the L 46 toward and away from opening 18 in pipe 14 as desired.

For inserting and removing L 46 and its associated parts relative to casing 10, rod 64 and plates 52 will be elevated suiiciently so that the lower end of slots 60 are embracing the lugs 62. In this position, lugs 62 are far enough from edges 54- of plates 52 that the L 46 has adequate clearance within pipe '10 to permit easy insertion or withdrawal of the entire assembly. Once inserted, however, the L 46 will be opposite port 14 (Fig. 2) and cannot be turned out of such alignment Patented Aug. 23, 1960i because of the lug 26 resting in notch 28 in edge 24 of pipe as previously described. Nut 72 is then rotated to lower rod 64 and plates 52 whereby slots 60 more past lugs 62 in slidable engagement therewith causing the L 46 to be biased into sealing contact with opening 18 of port 14 as seen in Fig. 3. During this process, the rear edges 56 of plates S2 will bear against the adjacent inner lsurface of pipe 10 and the top edge 24 of pipe 10 will 1n effect serve as a pivot or hinge point for the support ring 20 to permit the slight lateral movement of pipe 30 and housing 34. To unseal the L 46 from opening 18 in pipe 14, rod 64 is elevated reversing the action of plates 52 on lugs 62 and here the forward edges 54 of plates 52 will bear against the adjacent inner surface of the casing 10.

For the top of casing 10 a suitable cap 76 is provided which includes a resilient sealing ring 78 for frictional engagement with the outer surface of casing 10 near edge 24. Cap 76 contains an opening 80 for passage of an electrical conduit 82 which is required for the pump (not shown) in a well known manner, and an eye bolt 84 extending through cap 76, cap 32 and into pull pipe 30 is used to supplement the frictional attachment of cap 76 to pipe 10. Bolt 84 is also usable when cap 76 is removed for direct attachment to pipe 30 (Fig. 4) to facilitate the removal of ring 2t) and its attached parts.

It is submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suited to achieve the purposes intended and its characterized by a combination of highly useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine their respective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the objects sought to be obtained.

It will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of this invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modied forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A pitless adapter assembly, comprising a well casing provided with a lateral discharge port at a point spaced below the top edge thereof, a support ring removably mounted on the top edge of said well casing, a pull pipe operatively connected to and depending from said support ring, a housing carried by the lower end of said pull pipe, a sealing L on one side of said housing disposed to register with said discharge port, said housing provided with a passageway communicating at one end with said sealing L and designed at its other end for operable connection to a pumping unit, a vertically disposed adjusting rod parallel to said pull pipe, means threadably engaging the upper end of said adjusting rod with said support ring whereby said rod can be selectively moved upwardly and downwardly respectively relative to said support ring, a vertical guide plate being carried by the lower end of said adjusting rod, said plate adjacent said housing and provided with an inclined slot, a boss on said housing extending into said slot, and said plate vertically movable with said adjusting rod whereby said slot serves as a track moving against said boss to selectively move said L into and out of engagement with said discharge port along a horizontal line parallel to said plate.

2. A pitless adapter, comprising a well casing having a lateral discharge port, said port dening an annular tapered seat recessed in said casing wall so that the interior of said casing is free of any obstruction, a circular support plate removably mounted on the upper edge of said casing, a housing provided with an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, said outlet terminating in a boss-like projection on said housing, an annular tapered face on said projection, means suspending said housing from said support plate within said casing so that said projection is in registering position with said tapered seat, and means operatively associated with said housing and said support plate for selectively horizontally biasing said tapered face on said projection into and out of sealing engagement with said seat in said discharge port.

3. A device as definedv in claim 2 including a resilient sealing ring imbedded in the seat on said projection.

4. A pitless adapter, comprising a well casing having a lateral discharge port, said port dening an annular tapered seat in said casing wall, a circular support plate removably mounted on the upper edge of said casing, a housing provided with an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, said outlet terminating in a boss-like projection on said housing, an annular tapered face on said projection, relatively rigid means suspending said housing from said support plate within said casing so that said projection is in registering position lwith said discharge port, a vertical control plate disposed adjacent said housing, said control plate having a slot diagonally disposed therein, a lug on said housing extending into said slot and slidably engageable by the edges defining said slot, and rigid means connecting said control plate to said support plate but for vertical movement relative to said housing whereby said tapered face on said projection can be selectively biased into and out of sealing engagement with said seat in said discharge port.

5. A pitless adapter, comprising a well casing having a lateral discharge port, a support plate resting on the top of said casing, a housing having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, relatively rigid means suspending said housing within said easing from said sup port plate so that said outlet is in registering position with said discharge port, a vertical control plate disposed adjacent said housing, said control plate having a slot diagonally disposed therein, a lug on said housing extending into said slot and slidably engageable by the edges dening said slot, and rigid means connecting said control plate to said support plate but for vertical movement relative to said housing whereby said outlet can be selectively biased horizontally into and out of sealing engagement with said discharge port.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 including means holding said support plate against rotary movement relative to said casing.

7. A pitless adapter, comprising a well casing having a notch in the top edge thereof, said casing having a lateral discharge port, an annular support plate having a peripheral shoulder, a lug on the perimeter of said support plate, said support plate being mounted on said casing by said shoulder engaging the top edge thereof and said lug being seated in said notch, a housing having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, relatively rigid means suspending said housing within said casing from said support plate, the seating of said lug in said notch placing said outlet in registering position with said discharge port, a vertical control plate disposed adjacent said housing, said control plate having a slot diagonally disposed therein, a lug on said housing extending into said slot and slidably engageable by the edges defining said slot, and means connecting said control plate to said support plate for vertical movement relative to said housing whereby said outlet can be selectively biased horizontally into and out of sealing engagement with said discharge port.

8. A pitless adapter assembly, comprising a well casing provided with a lateral discharge pipe, said pipe terminating at one end in an orifice ush with the interior wall of said well casing, a support ring removably mounted to the top edge of said casing, a housing having an inlet and outlet connected by a passageway, relative rigid 'means suspending said housing from said support ring within said housing so that said outlet is in registering position with said orifice, said support ring being the only support means for said housing, and said means suspending said housing from said support ring being operable whereby said oulet can be selectively biased horizontally into and out of direct sealing engagement with said orifice.

9. A pitless adapter assembly comprising a well casing provided with a lateral discharge pipe entirely exteriorly thereof and spaced below the top edge thereof, said pipe terminating in an orifice flush with the interior wall surface of said well casing, a support ring removably mounted on the top edge of said well casing, a pull pipe operatively connected to and depending from said support ring, a housing carried by the lower end of said pull pipe, a sealing boss on one side of said housing, said boss provided with an opening disposed to register with said orice, said housing being provided with a passageway communicating at one end with said sealing boss and designed at its other end for operable connection to a pumping unit, and means connecting said housing to said support ring to selectively move said sealing boss horizontally into and out of direct sealing engagement with said orice.

10. A pitless adapter assembly comprising a well casing provided with a lateral discharge pipe entirely exteriorly thereof and spaced below the top edge thereof, said well provided with a notch in the top edge thereof, said pipe terminating in an orifice ush with the interior wall surface of said well casing, a support ring, a peripheral lug thereon, said support ring removably mounted on the top edge of said well casing with said lug seated in said notch to hold said support ring against rotary movement relative to said well casing, a pull pipe operatively connected to and depending from said support ring, a housing carried by the lower end of said pull pipe, a sealing boss on one side of said housing, said boss provided with an opening disposed so that the seating of said lug in said notch positions said boss to register with said orifice, said housing being provided with a passageway communicating at one end with said sealing boss and designed at its other end for operable connection to a pumping unit, and means connecting said housing to said support ring to selectively move said sealing boss horizontally into and out of direct sealing engagement with said orifice.

11. In a pitless adapter assembly, a well casing provided with an exterior discharge pipe spaced from the top edge thereof, said pipe terminating at one end in an orifice flush with the interior wall of said well casing, a support ring removably mounted directly on the top edge of said well casing, a housing, relatively rigid means connecting said housing to said support ring and suspending said housing therefrom within said well casing, said housing being provided With a passageway terminating at one end in a sealing boss on said housing, said boss being in registering position with said orice, and said means connecting said housing to said support ring being operable for selectively biasing said boss horizontally into and out of direct sealing engagement with said orifice.

12. In a pitless adapter assembly, a well casing provided with an oriiice in the casing wall, a discharge pipe exteriorly of said casing and terminating at one end in said orifice, a housing, relatively rigid means suspending said housing within said casing from the top thereof, said housing having an inlet and outlet provided with a passageway terminating at one end in a sealing boss on said housing, said boss being in registering position with said orice, and said means suspending said housing within said casing being operable for selectively biasing said boss horizontally into and out of direct sealing engagement with said orifice.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,380 Bass June 10, 1941 2,488,470 Gerweck et al Nov. 15, 1949 2,545,886 Kooistra Mar. 20, 1951 2,689,611 Martinson Sept. 21, 1954 2,771,955 Carter Nov. 27, 1956 2,791,976 Kruschwitz May 14, 1957 2,823,629 Witte Feb. 18, 1958 

